Wood storage tank for oils



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WOOD STORAGE TANK FOR OILS Filed June 5, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Clarence mStez/ens James P. Nee Z way/MA ATTORNEY.

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WOOD STORAGE TANK FOR OILS Filed June 5, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1&6 5 flm4 Em. J

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INVENTOR3 Clarence W. Siemens Jam es E Neel.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 21, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT FFEE Clarence W. Stevens, Wichita, and James P. Neel, Valley Center, Kans.

Application June 5, 1935, Serial No. 25,050

2 Claims.

Our invention relates to improvements in wood storage tanks for oil.

The object of our invention is to arrange for continuous hydro-saturation of the staves and head members of an oil tank, during the absence of its contents, wholly or in part.

A further object of our invention is to provide means for the introduction and distribution of water to each of the staves and upper head members of a wood tank in which oil is stored.

A still further object of our invention is to provide a supply inlet for the fluid at the top of the tank and an exit for the fluid at the lower extremity of the series of ducts distributed uni- :formly through the wall and upper head or deck of the tank, by which means changing of the fluid from pure water to antifreeze compound is easily and quickly accomplished.

These and other objects will hereinafter be more fully explained, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like references will apply to like parts in the different Views.

Referring tothe drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the tank deck or upper head.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the tank, partly in section.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged inside view of one of the tank staves medially broken.

Fig. 4 is an edge view of the stave and a portion of the deck.

Fig. 5 is an outside view of one of the deck members, medially broken.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of Fig. 5, taken on line 66 in Fig. 5 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Our invention herein disclosed relates to a duct system and manner of distributing the same within the wall and deck members of a tank constructed of wood and means to inject water into the duct system and to eject the water therefrom when a change is desired from water to a nonfreezing fluid, all of which is arranged as hereinafter described. Prior to such description we wish to explain that tanks constructed of wood as a container for oil are subject to excess shrinkage due to atmosphere and sun exposure, causing rapid evaporation of the natural moisture contained in the wood and also the deterioration of the natural gum product contained in such fibrous growth.

To overcome the above mentioned conditions, we have formed in each of the staves l a groove 2, approximately in the center of each edge of the said stave, starting a short distance from the lower end and terminating near the center of a transversely positioned croze 3 in which the ends of the deck members 4 are housed, the said members having similar grooves 2 in each edge thereof but extending through from end to end and across each end as at A, the staves being thus positioned will form an annular groove around the edge of the deck or in other words the upper head of the tank, and being so arranged the 10 grooves of the staves and grooves of the head members communicate through the medium of notches 5, removing that portion of the groove wall adjacent the bottom of the said transverse croze 3. 15

It will be understood, concerning the ducts previously referred to, that they are formed by the said croze 3 along the abutting edges of the staves and deck members, when they are clamped firmly together with their adjacent groove in registry. 20

Each of the staves are bored transversely as at 6, communicating with grooves 2, and being thus arranged circulation of the fluid at the time of injecting or ejecting the same is accomplished.

Extending upward from the deck and com- 25 municating with one of the transverse ducts is a nipple I for the injection of water or nonfreezing fluid, and a similar nipple 8 secured to the lower end of one of the staves and in registry with an annular duct B, with which the verti- 30 cally positioned ducts connect to drain the same at the time of ejection.

Each of the said nipples is threaded to receive a cap as sealing means therefor when the duct system is fully charged, there is also a nip- 35 ple 9 secured to one of the deck members in registry with an appropriate transverse duct functioning as a vent during ejection or injection of the fluid, and also as an overflow to indicate a full charge of the duct system of said tank. 40

The last said vent nipple may also be capped to avoid evaporation of the fluid and to maintain a vacuum should leakage occur unexpectedly.

The tank as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 has a bottom II], the duct system being omitted as it is 45 naturally positioned in close proximity to the ground and inclosed by the lower extension of the stave ends commonly known as the chime, therefore the said bottom being concealed is not subject to shrinkage like other parts of the tank. 50

The staves of the tank are secured to snug engagement with the peripheral edge of the deck and bottom, and also the stave joints fluid tight by a plurality of rods I l spaced apart and highly tensioned to engagement with the staves. 55

'I'he deck members are clamped to face alignment by bar members l2 placed oppositely on each side of the head members and secured by bolts 12 extending therethrough.

There is also connected to the tank a manhole l3, an oil inlet I4 and an outlet l5 and a gauge hatch Hi, the latter elements [3 to I6 inclusive referred to, we do not claim such broadly as a part of our invention as they are old but required to make up a complete serviceable tank, and such other modifications may be employed as lie within the scope of the appended claims.

Having fully described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. In wood storage tanks for oil of the class described, comprising a plurality of staves for the side wall and upper head of the tank, each end of the staves being crozed to receive the peripheral edge of the head and a bottom for the tank, each side wall stave being bored transversely extending from one edge through to the other edge, and spaced a short distance above where it joins the bottom, and a similar bore for the upper ends of said staves, spaced downward a short distance from where they join the head, each edge of the wall staves being grooved from the bore near the bottom and extending upward to the center of the croze for the head and communicating therewith, through a notched opening, the said grooves also communicating with the bore near the upper end of the staves, and the stave of the head having a groove in each edge and end thereof, each of the head staves being bored transversely near each end thereof and communicating with their respective grooves, by which means fluid containing ducts are formed, a nipple communicating with one bore of an outside stave of the head, and a similar nipple communicating with the bore of the other outside stave, said nipples oppositely positioned from the diametrical axis of the head and functioning as fluid filling and vent means for all of the grooves and their respective bore connections, and a nipple positioned in the bore at the lower end of one of the staves as a drainage for the duct sys tem, all substantially as shown.

2. A wood storage tank of the character described comprising a wall, a bottom portion and a deck for closing the upper end of the tank, the said wall, bottom and deck formed of a plurality of staves having grooves formed in their longitudinal edges, the grooves terminating just short of the ends of the staves, the staves of the wall portion provided with upper and lower croze, ports formed through the staves adjacent their opposite ends transversely for connecting the said grooves, the said ports spaced inwardly from the transverse croze and inwardly from the ends of the grooves, notches connecting the upper croze with the said grooves of the staves, the said grooves and connecting bores of the side wall and deck portion forming a continuous fluid circulating channel over the entire area of the tank and filler, venting and drain openings formed in the tank.

CLARENCE W. STEVENS. JAMES P. NEEL. 

